A pectin-based coating formulation for postharvest application to fruits developed by researchers from UPLB won the Grand Prize of the 2019 Alfredo M. Yao (AMY) Intellectual Property (IP) Awards – Professional Category. The demonstration and judging were held on October 10, 2019 at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Headquarters, Taguig City while the awarding ceremony was held at the 45th Philippine Business Conference Expo on October 16, 2019 at the Manila Hotel.
Fruitect® Mango is a fruit coating formulation developed by Dr. Veronica C. Sabularse, Dr. Hidelisa P. Hernandez and Asst. Prof. Rhea DC. Mallari of the Institute of Chemistry, UPLB. The coating formulation was tailor-made for Philippine ‘Carabao’ mango fruits to reduce postharvest losses by delaying the ripening process. This project was funded by PCIEERD-DOST in 2013.
The AMY IP Awards is an annual competition organized by PCCI in partnership with the Intellectual Property Office Philippines (IPOPHL) which seeks to promote and recognize locally developed and socially relevant intellectual properties that have contributed or have the potential to contribute to economic growth and development. It also aims to strengthen intellectual property development and protection in the Philippines.
Vice President Leni Robredo and PCCI Officials led by PCCI President Ma. Alegria Sibal-Limjoco with the AMY IP Award Grand Winner – Professional Category: Fruitect® Mango inventors: Asst. Prof. Rhea DC. Mallari, Dr. Veronica C. Sabularse and Dr. Hidelisa P. Hernandez during the awarding ceremony (photo courtesy of Ms. Anya Marie T. Cruz of PCCI).
